International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics

Volume 118 No. 24 2018

ISSN: 1314-3395 (on-line version)
url: http://www.acadpubl.eu/hub/
Special Issue
http://www.acadpubl.eu/hub/

Comparative Study of Horizontal and

Vertical Electrode Structure in
Supercapacitors
Samata Parulekar1 , Megha Swain2 ,
P.B.Karandikar 3 ,R.M.Holmukhe4
1,4
Department of Electrical Engineering,
BVDUCOE, Pune, India
2,3
Department of E&TC Engineering,
AIT, Pune, India
parulekarsamata@gmail.com1 ,
meghapendu17@gmail.com 2
pbkarandikar@gmail.com3 ,
rmholmukhe@bvu.edu.in 4
May 29, 2018

Abstract
Capacitance is an important parameter of electric energy
storage device. It is the ability of electric energy storage de-
vice to store an electric charge. Capacitance value in farad
indicates that it is supercapacitor and not conventional ca-
pacitor. Supercapacitor the new age energy storage device
cannot store charge for a long time, hence they are presently
used along with batteries as a hybrid storage device in which
battery is the long term power source while supercapacitors
provides peak power that the battery is unable to deliver.
The capacitance is a function of geometry or design of elec-
trode plates. The research paper demonstrates the effect
of alignment of horizontal and vertical electrodes on quick
charge and discharge cycle in supercapacitors and its sub-
sequent effect on capacitance value. The study focuses on

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

effect of capacitance due to alignment of electrodes enabling

researchers to design supercapacitors which can hold more
charge so that supercapacitors can be used as primary en-
ergy storage device. Research was performed with prepara-
tion of electrodes using 5 types of activated carbons namely
Vulcun XC-72, Pica, RP-20, C-60 and NORIT. The elec-
trodes were prepared in specified dimension of rectangular
shaped wire mesh plates and aqueous solution of potassium
sulphate was used as electrolyte in research. The test was
conducted on single electrode and it was initially charged at
a voltage of 2.2V and its discharge current was recorded for
a time period of 3 minutes, the same process was conducted
for the stack type of electrodes. First series connection was
established at the voltage of 6.6V for vertical and horizontal
alignment of electrodes and discharge current was recorded.
Similar process was carried for parallel connection at applied
voltage of 2.2V. Value of capacitance of various supercapaci-
tors made from these carbon materials is compared to select
the best electrode material.
Key Words:Supercapacitor, ultracapacitor, series, par-
allel, horizontal, vertical.

1 INTROUDCTION
Supercapacitors also known as electric double layer capacitors which
increases energy storage ability due to a large increase in surface
area through use of a porous electrolyte. Electrical energy is di-
rectly stored by using supercapacitors. There is no need to replace
Supercapacitors because , they do not undergo life-limiting, irre-
versible, chemical reactions, and they do not experience dry-up
problems. Supercapacitors are a new electric energy storage device
with extremely high capacity density. They have a virtually un-
limited service life, fast charge discharge capability and very low
leakage current [1].
Basic design of supercapacitors consists of two electrodes sep-
arated by an ion-permeable membrane (separator), and an elec-
trolyte ionically connecting both electrodes. The study aims at
comparison of electrode performance on change from vertical align-
ment to horizontal alignment. The idea of horizontal alignment of
electrode is derived from the study of horizontal plate structure of

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

electrodes in batteries which have significantly improved the cyclic

stability and energy density of batteries [3]. The study will provide
a comparative analysis of alignment of electrode and its effect on
the performance of supercapacitors. This study will help in bet-
ter electrode and supercapacitor design for overall improvement in
specification of supercapacitor.
Faradays law is applicable in this experiment, the electrode used
generate faradic current that is generated by reduction or oxidation
of some chemical substance at an electrode. The voltage ratings in
supercapacitors are generally 2.7V or less that is mainly obtained
from the electrochemical stability of the electrolyte and electrode
material. For high voltage application several cells has to connect in
series. Placing of the cells in parallel manner is completely depends
on the energy requirements. In case of series connection overall
voltage increased by number of cells connected in series. Placing
cells in parallel will not affect the voltage. When placing same value
cell in series the system capacitance is reduced by the number of
cells placed in series similarly placing same value cells in parallel
will increase the overall system capacitance proportionately to the
number of cells placed in parallel.[4].

2 EXPERIMENTATION
Laboratory trials were conducted for the preparation of electrodes
using stainless steel wire mesh as current collector. Activated car-
bons such as Vulcun XC-72, Norit, Pica, RP-20 and C-60 were used
as electrode material. To make faradic electrode slurry of composite
material that is activated carbon and metal oxide is used as elec-
trode material. In this experiment slurry of activated carbon and
manganese dioxide loading density of 20mg per square centimeter.
Acetone was used as mixing agent. No binder material is required
as current collector, electrode material and separators are packed
tightly over each other. A sandwich type fabrication process in-
volved in the making of electrodes. The slurry prepared was pasted
on the specific dimension of rectangular shaped wire mesh, with a
help of adhesive and the separator was used to keep two electrode
plates apart to prevent electrical short circuit and allows the trans-
port ionic charge carriers. This was the fabrication process which

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

was involved in the experiment. For making of aqueous electrolyte

K2SO4 is used. The prepared electrodes were tested in laboratory
for single and stack type.
Trial 1: The single electrode was taken for the first trial. The
electrode was placed in aqueous electrolyte in vertical and horizon-
tal position. A voltage of 2.2Volts applied then discharge of current
was noted for 3 minutes time period.

Fig 1. Schematic diagram of Front and Top view of single

electrode structure in Vertical and horizontal form

Graphical comparison of results obtained is presented as below

Fig 2. Value of Capacitance for single supercapacitor in vertical

and horizontal form.

Trial 2-Comparison of 3 Electrodes Stacked in Series

Connection: The series connected stack of three electrodes was
placed in aqueous electrolyte solution in vertical and horizontal
position. As it is a series connection the overall voltage will increase
directly by the number of cells in series. One electrode represents
one cell and each electrode is having a voltage rating of 2.2Volts.
Hence in this trial maximum voltage was 6.6V and accordingly the
discharge of current were noted for 3 minutes.

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

Principle involved: when placing cells in series the system

capacitance is reduced by number of cells placed in series mathe-
matically given by

Csys = Ccell ÷ n (1)

Where n is number of cell, Ccell is capacitance of single electrode
and Csys is total capacitance of system.

Fig 3. Schematic diagram of Front and Top view of series

connected stack of three supercapacitor structure in Vertical and
horizontal form

Graphical comparison of results obtained is presented as below

Fig 4. Value of Capacitance for series connected stack of three

electrodes in vertical and horizontal form.

Trial 3: Comparison of 3 Electrodes Stacked in Parallel

Connection: The parallel stacks of three electrodes were placed
in electrolyte in vertical and horizontal position. The stacks of 3
electrodes were connected parallely and as it is a parallel connection
the overall voltage will not be affected. Hence the voltage will be
2.2V and accordingly discharge of current was noted for 3 minutes
Principle involved: when placing cells in parallel the system
capacitance is increased by number of cells placed in series mathe-
matically given by

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

Csys = Ccell × n (2)

Where n is number of cell, Ccell is capacitance of single electrode
and Csys is the total system capacitance

Fig 5. Schematic diagram of Front and Top view of series

connected stack of three supercapacitors in Vertical and horizontal
form

Graphical comparison of results obtained is presented as below

Fig 6. Value of Capacitance for parallel connected stack of three

supercapacitors in vertical and horizontal form.

3 CONCLUSION
The lab experiments have shown the improvement in capacitance
when electrodes are horizontally aligned. Vulcun XC-72 as elec-
trode material has shown 30% increase in capacitance value in hor-
izontal alignment of single electrode than vertical alignment. Vul-
cun XC-72 and RP-20 as electrode material has shown 33% and
24% increase in capacitance value in horizontal alignment of series
as well as parallel connected stack of three electrodes than vertical

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alignment. Hence it is clearly visible that out of 5 types of car-

bon material, Vulcun XC-72 and RP-20 has shown best value of
capacitance for both types of alignment. It is clear from lab exper-
iment that the series and parallel stack of supercapacitors follows
the basic rule of capacitor that is in series connection the capac-
itance exactly one third the capacitance value of single capacitor
and in parallel connection the capacitance is exactly thrice the ca-
pacitance value of single capacitor. In case of vertical alignment
there exist the problem of leakage which affects the key parameters
of supercapacitor particularly capacitance value and this problem is
mitigated by horizontal alignment of supercapacitors where there is
no provision for the leakage. Horizontal aligned electrodes are used
mainly in coin shaped supercapacitors which finds the application
in electric vehicle, electric wheelchair, fire alarm and security sys-
tem, battle tank etc. These applications need quick burst of energy
and stability. The horizontal alignment has shown promise because
it can store more charge per unit of area as compared to vertical
alignment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENET Authors expresses there sin-
cere and humble gratitude to all faculties from electrical depart-
ment for their valuable guidance and encouragement given during
the course of work. Authors are also thank full to respected Dr.
D.S. Bankar, Head of the Department, Electrical Engineering BV-
DUCOEP, for providing convenience and support in the department
to do this work.

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